e46 bmw 323i problem

Originally Posted by mrg325i

Has this lack of hp been going on for a while? Has it been a gradual change or something within the last weeks or months?
I am hoping to keep this thread going so we can get more help. My general automotive knowledge is fairly good. My BWM specific knowledge is not that good.
You are not going to get a gread deal of hp out of a 323.

OP thinks this may not be the original engine....an engine making anywhere *near* 200 HP would tend to confirm that idea....

Originally Posted by m-series

i don't disagree at all, well a 330 is up to 235hp, a 328 is 190hp, i know that a stock 323i is 170hp,

You show me a stock m54 making 280 torque. There is none, numbers are way too high as I stated


straight out of the road and track july 2002 for the 330:

Peak Horsepower 225 @ 5,900 = 200 lb-ft
Peak Torque 214 lb-ft @ 3,500 = 143 hp

Originally Posted by mrg325i

Has this lack of hp been going on for a while? Has it been a gradual change or something within the last weeks or months?
I am hoping to keep this thread going so we can get more help. My general automotive knowledge is fairly good. My BWM specific knowledge is not that good.
You are not going to get a gread deal of hp out of a 323.

at first it was amazingly quick with even more boost at high revs, then suddenly it got slow, from then it got slower and worse when i first had it i got a digital 0-60 time of just over 6

Originally Posted by marinekilz

You show me a stock m54 making 280 torque. There is none, numbers are way too high as I stated


straight out of the road and track july 2002 for the 330:

Peak Horsepower 225 @ 5,900 = 200 lb-ft
Peak Torque 214 lb-ft @ 3,500 = 143 hp

m52 engine, sorry i think it was 310 torque, you have me wrong on the type, i was talking in nm not lb-ft

I have the same problem with sluggish response in my 323i (2000). I know very little about cars but Im guessing it is a transmission problem? What did you find out? Were you able to fix the problem?

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Idler pulley.

+ 1


Sluggishness? Auto or manual...?

Auto. The rpms go up but there's no engagement. The problem is intermittent with some shaking. Local guy told me to hold the neg wire to the pos terminal on the battery to clear the electronic mem. Might try that today to reset and determine if it's software or tranny

mine isnt transmission trouble, does anyone know full name of idler pulley on that diaphragm on page 1

Hey guys! my Bmw 323i - 00 Engine Head Gasket probably broke today, because i got oil in the water or at least Im hoping its just the gasket. My question is can i buy a 1 mm gasket instead of the 0.7mm gasket even if Im not planing on grinding the head? will the 0.3 mm difference change the compression? And has anybody changed the gasket on this engine? Is It hard? and do i need any special tools for it?

I believe you`re jumping the gun, my boy....the FIRST step should be to make a proper diagnosis. Get a compression/leakdown test performed before doing anything else.

What about the oil in the water? what could it be if not the gasket or the head itself thats cracked? I mean the compression could be fine but the gasket could still be broken between the oil and water "compartments" or? I don't have a lot of time as i need the car to get to and from work, wanna get parts ordered as soon as possible^^

Oil & water combined is usually a result of one of the following:

Head gasket

Cracked head

Cracked block

How can a BMW 323i have 200hp There is no possible way.
That dyno test may have something wrong with it.

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Oil & water combined is usually a result of one of the following:

Head gasket

Cracked head

Cracked block

Yeah, I'll order the gasket and keep my fingers crossed, Does anybody know If it makes a difference with a 1mm Gasket instead of a 0.7mm Gasket? I'll be ok with a 1mm or?

Thanks Fast Bob

Originally Posted by orightythen

Yeah, I'll order the gasket and keep my fingers crossed, Does anybody know If it makes a difference with a 1mm Gasket instead of a 0.7mm Gasket? I'll be ok with a 1mm or?

Thanks Fast Bob

I think you might be ordering your parts a bit too soon, if it could be cracked head or block that is